Mount Sinai Hospital recognizes its employees for their years of service and the excellence of their work. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them. JFK
Executive Director Corner In this summer newsletter we are celebrating the professionals, support staff and volunteers that make up Mount Sinai Hospital. It s hard to believe that we launched our Working Together Program just last year and we have completed 90 % of all goals! We worked together to make it happen! Staff Empowerment, huddle stations, a revamped newsletter and most recently flat screen information boards located next to the gift shop and staff lounges. Hospital information is displayed on these screens as well as current health news. The hospital intranet has also been revamped and is now operational. Additional computer access points for staff will be available in the coming months. One of our proudest accomplishments is the completely revamped staff recognition program honoring all of our employees over 5 years of service as well as awarding, in addition to the Nursing Award of Excellence, Awards of Excellence honoring a member of the Multidisciplinary Council and one honoring a Nursing Assistant or P.A.B. The recognition ceremony held last month was a successful event much appreciated by all those in attendance. We are most appreciative to our donors, the Fishman family and the Kendall family who s generosity allowed for the creation of the awards. It will serve as an annual opportunity for our staff to be acknowledged for their service in making Mount Sinai Hospital what a hospital is meant to be. 2 We are very proud to be the first hospital on the island of Montreal to launch respite beds in palliative care. This program provided by Mount Sinai Hospital in collaboration with the Montreal Health Agency, offers home care palliative patients a short term respite which in turn offers caregivers a period of rest. Persons aged at least 18 years and diagnosed with a final stage terminal illness with a prognosis of more than one month and less than one year and at home are the target audience of this program. It would be remise of me not to address some of the more difficult issues which continue to challenge the health and social services network in Montreal including Mount Sinai Hospital. Primarily budget cuts imposed by the government and which have taken place over the last 4 years and continue to take place. Each year it is more and more difficult to choose which areas will be affected as we want to preserve the programs and the quality of care for which Mount Sinai is renowned. Many of you have been touched by these cuts in different manners. We thank you for your continued commitment and professionalism to the job at hand. Thank you for performing your responsibilities in a positive, seamless manner and for focussing on our patient needs, our vision and values always remembering that it s not just about care, it s about caring. Thank you again for your support, enjoy your summer. Michel Amar
Mount Sinai Hospital Staff Recognition Ceremony The first annual staff recognition ceremony was held at Mount Sinai Hospital on June 18th, 2014. Executive Director, Michel Amar welcomed the Fishman family and the Kendall family who through their generous donations have made it possible for Mount Sinai to now present 3 awards of excellence to a nurse, a member of the multidisciplinary council and a P.A.B. or L.P.N. A fourth award is in the final stages of being established that will recognize a team that has demonstrated exemplary leadership in improving quality of care for our patients. Retirees and Staff with over 5 years of service at Mount Sinai were presented with certificates and a gift. In total 130 service awards were presented. Mount Sinai Hospital believes that behind each employee there is a human being who needs to be recognized and supported for the exceptional work being accomplished. 2014 Luba and Joseph Fishman Award of Excellence for a Nurse The Fishman Family presented the 2014 Luba and Joseph Fishman Award of Excellence for a Nurse to Adela Lazar. This award was established by the Fishman family to honor their parents in recognition of the excellent nursing care their mother received by the nurses of Mount Sinai Hospital. Adela Lazar has been with Mount Sinai since January 1991 firstly as a PAB and then pursuing her education to become a registered nurse in 1994 serving most of her years on our 4 th floor longterm unit. Nominated by her peers Adela is characterized as dedicated, hardworking and efficient. Her attention to the needs of her patients both physically and emotionally are described as exemplary. Quoting a number of her peers; she is the embodiment of what a nurse should be and she is an inspiration to those who work with her. 3
2014 Larry Kendal Award of Excellence - Multidisciplinary CounThe Kendall family has established 2 new prizes of excellence in recognition for the care received by their father at Mount Sinai. The Kendall family presented the Larry Kendall Award of excellence recognizing a member of the multidisciplinary council to Inhalation therapist Emilio Cabanas. Emilio has been at Mount Sinai working in inhalation therapy since 1995. He is described by his peers as a team player. Helping patients understand their illness and how to deal with it is a priority for him. He is described as having a big heart and able to deal with challenges in an effective and professional manner as they arise. He exemplifies the Spirit of this award as described by one of his peers. 4
2014 Larry Kendal Award of Excellence - L.P.N. or P.A.B. A 2nd Larry Kendall Award of Excellence has been established to recognize a PAB or a Nursing Assistant (LPN) who has delivered exemplary care to the patients of Mount Sinai Hospital. The Kendall family presented P.A.B. Imelda De Leon with the Larry Kendall Award of Excellence. Imelda De Leon has been with Mount Sinai Hospital since 1991. She is described as hardworking, caring and compassionate to her patients, their families and her co-workers. Characterized by one of her peers as being profoundly humanistic with those in her care, she is described as being a role model for all of her colleagues by her behaviour and her actions. 5
Mount Sinai Hospital recognizes it s Retirees and Staff Years of Service at the Annual Staff Recognition Ceremony June 18, 2014 Annie Erenyi 35 years & Peter Erenyi 36 years of service Retired Nurse Faith Drouin 6
2014 Recognition event for Nurses, LPN s and PAB s 7
Multidisciplinary Council Recognition Luncheon 2014 Mount Sinai Hospital Volunteer Recognition Luncheon 2014 Volunteer, Celia Myerson received her 25 year service award for her volunteer work at Mount Sinai. Over 80 volunteers attended the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on May 7, 2014. Mount Sinai Hospital has 140 volunteers. 8
An update on the Research Department Dr. Charles Sounan, Director of Research at Mount Sinai Hospital reports that the research and productivity of our clinicians and research associates is outstanding. Aligned with Mount Sinai s 2013 2016 research strategic plan entitled 'Creating the Future our research centers around two axes; palliative care and respiratory care research. Mentorship, excellence, and interdisciplinary team work has led to the success of the research activities at Mount Sinai. Many of the results of our research activities in pulmonary rehabilitation, sleep apnea and palliative care have been published and/or have been presented, among others, the Journal of Health Psychology, Canadian Respiratory Journal, Canadian Medical Association Journal, Health Care Manager Journal, Le médecin du Québec, at the annual meeting of the Association of Professional Sleep Societies and the Quebec Respiratory Health Network. Common Respiratory Problems in Clinical Practice Mount Sinai Hospital hosted it s 4th Annual Medical Symposium on June 6th, 2014 at the Gelber Centre entitled Common Respiratory Problems in Clinical Practice Over 80 General Practitioners as well as some Mount Sinai Clinical staff attended. The program included 8 presentations addressing common respiratory problems. This educational day was made possible by a generous gift from the Levitt family in memory of Rochelle Levitt. 9
Staff Recognition BBQ June 25, 2014 Rain and cool temperatures didn t dampen Mount Sinai s Staff Recognition BBQ. After all how often do we get served by our Directors! Don t forget our next summer B.B. Q, August 28th, 2014 Rain or shine! 10
Mount Sinai Hospital hosts a public presentation on Asthma Chudney Pierre-Louis, Mount Sinai Hospital Certified Asthma Nurse presented an information session; It s Time to Take Control of Asthma on June 19th, 2014 at the hospital to local residents from Cote St. Luc, Montreal West, Snowdon and N.D.G. The presentation was followed by a question period as well as the sharing of information brochures. Auxiliary Donation in support of Music and Art Therapy at Mount Sinai Auxiliary Co-Presidents Aline Bank & Lorraine Caplan present a cheque to the Hospital Centre in support of the Music Therapy Program and Art Therapy program. MSH CALENDAR Summer 2014 August 17 Car Rally August 28 Staff B.B.Q. September 17 17:30 Public Annual General Meeting is your bulletin. If you have any story ideas or submissions please contact Community Relations and Volunteer Services at ext. 1332. EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER 5690 Cavendish Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H4W 1S7 514-369-2222 www.sinaimontreal.ca 11